These Private Tower Suites Above New York City Will Make You Feel Like Rapunzel

When the general trend in Manhattan seems to be tearing down and rebuilding, it’s refreshing when a hotel is able to renovate and modernize — without losing any history.

The Beekman, in downtown Manhattan, opened last year in the former Temple Court Building. The building, which opened in 1883, was one of Manhattan’s first skyscrapers. And more than 100 years later, visitors still ooh and aah over the impressive nine-floor atrium. But earlier this month, the hotel revealed an even more impressive renovation that only a few will ever get to see.

David Kukin

The Turret Penthouse Suites at The Beekman opened on October 2. The suites — which start at $6,500 per night — offer a type of privacy that's rare for a downtown Manhattan hotel: They’re on a floor all their own.

To access the suites, guests ride the elevator to the top of The Beekman’s nine-story atrium. Then they take a private staircase and emerge above the hotel’s storied glass skylight.

David Kukin

The two suites are located on opposite sides of the rooftop terrace.

David Kukin

The suites each take up an entire turret, across two floors. On the bottom floor, there’s a lounge and dining area, wet bar, powder room, and bathroom. The top level of the suite is more private, with a king size-bed and a freestanding bath tub. The decor of the suites reflects the rest of the hotel: an updated, luxurious piece of history. Nineteenth-century glass chandeliers hang over a flat-screen T.V. while an antique stone fireplace sits behind a leather lounge chair.

David Kukin

But the reason to book the turret suite is the rooftop access. In a city where the bustle on most rooftops matches the sidewalks below, the private balconies of the Turret Penthouse Suites are a unique respite. The view looks directly onto the imposing Freedom Tower with the Hudson River directly behind. And if the moment calls for champagne, suite guests have their own dedicated concierge team and 24-hour in-room dining.